This year, I’ve left a larger area of lawn to grow a bit wilder. Early primroses have given way to buttercups and long grasses with impressive seedheads, which now host the local house sparrow creche. The new arrivals are enjoying the bounty of insects lurking in the longer lawn.

Experimenting with different cutting lengths over the past couple of years has increased the array of wildflowers that are popping up in the lawn. I’ve had to remove a few thistles, and a couple of unknown shrubs attempted to come through, but the main task has been the final cut in the late summer and the removal of clippings. 

On my small patch at home, it’s an easy job but, at a landscape scale, grazing animals play a crucial role in managing grassland areas, including those on Avon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves. 

The conservation grazers

The arrival of cattle at Ebdon Farm recently was a welcome return, including some wonderful Gloucesters along with Herefords and Shorthorns. During this discovery phase of one of our most ambitious projects, the cattle will help to boost floral diversity by lowering the nutrient levels to unlock hidden seed banks within the soil. Cattle leave a longer sward and areas of tussocky grass, creating good habitat for insects, and can help to manage areas of coarser vegetation. 

Conservation grazing takes place at several AWT reserves with different species. Cattle can also be found grazing at Goblin Combe although the site is probably more well known for the friendly goats. The goats can easily tackle a range of grass lengths and scrubby areas and are able to cope with more challenging terrain, which is particularly useful at this site. 

For varied grass lengths and bare patches of ground that support insect populations, horses and ponies provide an efficient grazing solution, such as the Exmoor ponies at Folly Farm.

As a Welshman, the sight of grazing sheep is very familiar, and they can be a useful part of conservation grazing. However, stocking density is key to prevent overgrazing, and it is important to look at specific breeds that are more likely to be good at browsing and able to tackle nettles and small scrub. 

Dogs and livestock

To keep livestock, dogs, and dog walkers safe, it’s important that dogs are kept on a lead while on nature reserves or in any areas where livestock may be. Many of Avon Wildlife Trust’s reserves have free roaming livestock so you may come across them without notice. 

Dog waste should also be collected and taken away, as bacteria in dog waste can affect livestock. Dog waste bags are a choking hazard, and the biodegradable variety take several years to degrade if left in the open, so always best to take them away with you. 

The unsung grazers 

There is also a hidden army of grazers helping to manage our grassland areas. I always enjoy spotting a rabbit during a stroll around my local nature sites. A study by the University of East Anglia, as part of the Shifting Sands project, described the importance of the digging and grazing by rabbits in encouraging rarer species and improving soils. 

At Ebdon Farm, deer can often be seen in the distance. Their grazing preferences include the plants with woody stems and the smaller shrubs. Over the coming months, we’ll start to build a picture of how the land interacts with the animals that live, visit, and graze at Ebdon Farm, by carrying out surveys and listening to those who know the site well.

Find out more about Ebdon Farm and follow our progress